About

Kate Jarvis is a violinist and music educator based in Boise, Idaho. A native of Boise, Kate began her violin studies at the age of seven and is currently the assistant concertmaster of the Boise Philharmonic and principal second violin of the Boise Baroque Orchestra. She is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music (BM) and the University of Minnesota (MM), and has studied under leading professors including Charles Castleman, Lynn Blakeslee, and Sally O’Reilly.

An active performer, Kate has played throughout the United States as well as in Salzburg, Austria, and enjoys working with a diverse range of musicians and artists. Her activities include collaborating with the Minneapolis-based band Reina del Cid, and performing with the Ohio Light Opera as their assistant concertmaster. As an orchestral musician, Kate has performed with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra along with serving as principal second of the Eastman Philharmonia, concertmaster of the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, and principal second and concertmaster of the National Orchestral Institute and Festival. Kate has also performed as a substitute violinist for the Oregon Symphony.

A lover of chamber music, Kate has had the opportunity to be coached by members of the Ying Quartet, Takács Quartet, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and has spent many a happy summer studying at the Castleman Quartet Programs where she has also worked as a dean. She has performed as a guest artist on the Boise State University faculty chamber music recital, with Classical Revolution:Boise, and is a member of 208 Ensemble, Boise's contemporary music ensemble.

In addition to her performance career, Kate loves working with students in both public school classrooms and in private lessons. While at Eastman, she earned a degree in instrumental music education along with a degree in violin performance, and received her New York State teaching certificate. Kate has volunteered her time as a strings teacher within the Rochester, NY public schools, and has worked as a mentor for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony in Minneapolis, MN. Her background includes both traditional and Suzuki pedagogy, and she has worked with students of all ages and ability levels. Kate's violin students have been selected to perform in honor groups and summer festivals including the Castleman Quartet Program, Eastern Music Festival, Sun Valley Music Festival (Advanced Chamber Music Program), All-Northwest Orchestra, Idaho All-State Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Junior High Honor Orchestra (Boise), and the Intermediate Honor Orchestra (Boise).

When she is not playing the violin, you can find Kate experimenting with other instruments, watching British period dramas, eating ice cream, and enjoying the outdoors with her husband, violinist Geoffrey Hill, and their corgis, Finlay and Hazel.